Learning Opportunities

“Computational Thinking in Teaching and Learning” is an innovative collaboration between the Edmonton Regional Learning Consortium and the University of Alberta’s Faculty of Education. This timely project, which aligns perfectly with expectations for integrating Computer Science outcomes into teaching and learning in the new curriculum, is new this 2023-24 school year. Join instructor Trevor Iampen for this 12 session set of modules that will help you jumpstart your completion of the EDU 573 Summer masters course. Upon completion of the ERLC sessions, you would only need to complete the final project in the EDU 573 summer session course - which is to build a Scratch computational model (game or simulation). Not interested in the graduate course, but want to take the sessions anyway? Please join us - all are welcome! For more details, contact janet.bell@erlc.ca

Please note Session Titles.

You can select them all or individually after clicking "Register Now" at the top of the page.

January 18, 2024  Day 1  Intro to CS & CT [Computer Science & Computational Thinking]

• Learn about the basics of Computer Science (CS) and Computational Thinking (CT) through practical examples and unplugged instructional activities. Find out how to operationalize CS/CT in your instruction across the curriculum.

January 25, 2024  Day 2  Intro to Scratch

• Scratch is an easily accessible visual block programming language that can be leveraged for CS and CT instruction in your classroom. Learn the ropes through a guided tour where you will be encouraged to explore and play as you try out this amazing learning tool.

February 1, 2024  Day 3  Scratch Basics

• Continue your exploration of Scratch by diving into some key introductory programming ideas. Examine different groups of blocks and the drag & drop programming of sprites to achieve movement, change appearances and generate sounds. This introductory module will help set you up for a successful introduction to CS/CT and programming with your students.

February 8, 2024  Day 4  CT & Scratch: Core Programming Concepts

• Learn how to start making your classroom instruction come alive with creativity. Building on the previous modules, start connecting your CS/CT instruction with cross-curricular outcomes. Use your knowledge, skills and understanding of Scratch, CS & CT to create fun and engaging collaborative learning experiences for your students.

February 15, 2024  Day 5  CT & Programming: Events and Sequences

• Keep building the funtastic foundation for a game based method of cross-curricular instruction in your classroom. Learn how to implement the CS & CT concepts of Events and Sequences by creating a simple maze game in Scratch that will help you to operationalize your outcomes in new and exciting ways.

February 22, 2024  Day 6  CT & Programming: Loops and Parallelism

• Leverage the low floor, high ceiling and wide walls of a game based method for cross-curricular instruction in your classroom. Learn how to implement the CS & CT concepts of Loops and Parallelism by creating a simple scrolling game in Scratch that will help you to operationalize CT/CS and cross-curricular outcomes in engaging ways. 

March 7, 2024  Day 7  CT & Programming: Conditionals and Operations

• Keep building the funtastic foundation for a game based method of cross-curricular instruction in your classroom. Learn how to implement the concepts of Conditionals and Operations by creating a simple pong game in Scratch that will allow you to operationalize CT/CS and cross-curricular outcomes in engaging ways.

March 21, 2024  Day 8  CT & Programming: Data and Lists

• Try something a little more complex by adding databases to your instruction. Learn how to weave the CS & CT concepts of Data and Lists into your game based learning by creating a simple RPG (Role Playing Game) in Scratch. Dig deeper into the operationalization of CT/CS and cross-curricular outcomes in new and complex ways that allow for deep ties to the curriculum. 

April 4, 2024  Day 9  CT & Programming: Creating CS/CT/Cross-Curricular Projects

• Put it all together to develop a computational model that represents cross-curricular learning outcomes! Using the power of Scratch, muster all the knowledge, skills and understandings you have gained in the previous modules to create a project based instructional activity that will operationalize CS/CT as you teach cross-curricular objectives.

April 11, 2024  Day 10  Cross-Curricular Projects: Art & Music

• Create the seeds for cross-curricular projects in Art and Music. Learn how to teach CS/CT using cross-curricular objectives with Scratch. Once you have the foundation set, let your creativity take you from there to extend the learning.

April 18, 2024  Day 11  Cross-Curricular Projects: Language Arts & Math

• Sow more seeds for cross-curricular projects in Language Arts and Math. Learn how to teach CS/CT and cross-curricular objectives as you use Scratch. Once you have the foundation set, let your creativity take you from there to extend the learning.

April 25, 2024  Day 12  Cross-Curricular Projects: Social Studies & Science

• Continue to sow seeds for cross-curricular projects in Social Studies and Science. Learn how to teach CS/CT and cross-curricular objectives as you use Scratch. Once you have the foundation set, let your creativity take you from there to extend the learning.